Wilton Square Wheel problems and the KMG

A

Abrasive

Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
115
Hi Gang:

I've been using a Wilton Square Wheel for a bunch of years now, and I have about had it with the thing. It's a noisy beast, and I can't get belts to track worth a damn. I have dumped a bunch of money into it (slowdown pulley, VS DC motor and controller, and some attachments) but I think it might just be time to walk away.

The noise I can deal with, but the tracking has ruined more than one blade (tracking shifts if you apply pressure to the belt with the blade - it's like grinding in a fun house mirror but it's no fun!) and I have little enough shop time (and money for blade steel) as it is!!!

As a last resort I am going to experiment with my platen thickness. It does sit proud of the wheels by a fair amount (I made a Caffrey-style platen plate so that I could plunge grind on both sides - see http://www.caffreyknives.net/wilton.htm) and maybe it is too thick? I am using good belts and it's just as bad as using crappy belts. I just get more bad tracking grind time on the good belts. :jerkit: I am running electrical tape on the drive wheel to give it a bit of a crown. I have tried many different belts. I think it comes down to the tracking adjustment on the SqWheel being a POS...

So really I think I have sold myself on a KMG. Is there anyone out there that has used both that can give me a comparison and push me over the edge? :D I need to buy myself a nice Christmas present...

I know there are a bunch of guys reading this that would kill to have even a POS SqWheel... Sorry about that. I also know that there are guys out there perfectly happy with their SqWheels. I wish I was one!

Thanks,
Dave
 
The first grinder I ever used was a Square Wheel. It was only for a couple of days, and I had no clue what I was doing, so my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. I have a homebrew KMG clone that I use now.

The Wilton seems like a fine machine, even if the non-variable speed version is like grinding at 100MPH. I do recall seeing the belts waver a bit at start up, but I wasn't really ever bearing down on it (due to the afforementioned 100MPH belt speed). From my experience in building and using my KMG clone, I can see how tracking under pressure can become a factor if the belt tension isn't enough. That said, the tension adjustment on the Wilton leaves something to be desired. I mean, what if I want a tension that exists between two notches?

A KMG style machine is awfully nice, and tracks like a dream (if your belt tension isn't too loose). I highly recommend a KMG.

Your Wilton is a piece of crap and you should send it to me immediately. I will dispose of it in a humane method... :D

-d
 
I've been using my Wilton for over 20 years. I like it a lot. Are you running your belts with sufficient tension? How many notches from the top?
 
The only way I can get them to track "right" is to run them with a LOT of tension, to the point that they heat up and occasionally pop the joints. I DO NOT like it when that happens! :eek:

I'll have a look when I get home and see which notch I'm on.

It's good to hear someone likes their SW. I have no problem upgrading but if I can make the tool I have work, so much the better.

Thanks,
Dave
 
I run the belts (standard 3M) pretty tight, three notches from the top if I remember right. The only time I have popped a belt is when the belt was really old (more than 10 years.) I run scotch brite belts looser. It sometimes help tracking to reverse the belt.

Good luck
Bill Cunningham
Atlanta
 
I have one, and I like it. I feel really stupid to say this, but when I first got it I did'nt know about the plastic tipped set screw which fine tunes the tracking. Once I figured that out, I have not had any problems.I have never used the KMG, but just from looking at it, I think one would be covered in dust while using it. The guarding on the Wilton, is what really drew me to it.


Nick:)
 
I agree completely on the enclosed design on the Wilton. If a belt breaks, so what? No drama at all. On some of the wide open, unguarded designs, it must be a little more exciting. Actually, I imagine that the enclosed design may contibute to the somewhat high noise level of the Wilton.

Do you think the open designs could be used in an OSHA approved factory setting?
 
Anytime something goes BANG in my shop - especially right in front of my face - there is a little drama, if only in my pants. :o

I agree that the construction encourages noise.

Dave
 
My Sq Wheel is 25 years old with no problems but my two variable speed Bader B III's are sooooooo much smoother and quiter. My next grinder will be a KMG with a big-ass motor :D
 
I have an Olympic SW that I bought in '77. Some years ago it got to where it would not track. I found that the drive wheel had a ridge worn in it from use. I WILL NOT recommend the following, but I put a file to it while running and cured the problem. A safer way to go would have been to have it faced square by a machine shop, but I have been told that I am tightwad. I also did the plastic idler wheel as the ridge had worn down on it, and while I was at it, did the 8" contact wheel. It has been working pretty good for the last eight or so years now. PLEASE don't do this like I did. It is VERY DANGEROUS. Take the wheels to a machinist that can true them for you.
 
I milled my platten and added pyrex glass to deal with the plunge and guard grinds. You might get the aluminum tracking wheel availible for the Square wheel. I don't have the tracking problems you have mentioned. If I'm grinding a large blade at an angle with excessive pressure or dull belts I can get the belt to run off as you have mentioned.

I had the slow down wheel and have gone to varible speed. I'd like to find a 4x72 Wilton with the 5 HP motor...Take Care...Ed
 
Ed Caffrey said that he loved his old SW, but when it finaly gave up the ghost, he found that the new ones just weren't up to snuff. That is why he bought the KMG and had Rob mod it. I had the problem of belts breaking on my Radiusmaster. One split about a half an inch from the edge and cut me on the face......fortunately it was fine grit.:eek: The thing that i have noticed about the KMG in the couple of weeks that I have had it is that I don't get the "splice bump" that I did on the Jancy. I'm not sure if that is because i am running the fine grit blets slow or what, but the Jancy ran like a greyhound on crystal meth and sounded like an old truck going over a bad country road on anything finer than Norzon 100 grit belts.
 
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